Title: Petition of William B. Lacy, 19 May 1862
Date: May 19, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 3. The original document is held in the Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, 1775–1978, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 217.6.5. Within the National Archives' Archival Description Catalog, see ARC Identifier 4644616 / MLR Number A1 347 (http://arcweb.archives.gov).
Civil War Washington ID: cww.00292
TEI/XML: cww.00292.xml
PETITION.
To the Commissioners under the act of Congress approved the 16th of April, 1862, entitled "An act for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia."
Your Petitioner, William B. Lacy of Alexandria County Va. by this his petition in writing, represents and states, that he is a person loyal to the United States, who, at the time of the passage of the said act of Congress, held a claim to service or labor against a servant man, being a person of African descent of the name of John Ringold for and during the life of said John Ringold and that by said act of Congress said John Ringold is discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said John Ringold was of the age of about forty years and of the personal description following:(1) —Dark—About five feet nine and a half inches high—stout build—well made and healthy.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said John Ringold in manner following:(2) That is to say the said John Ringold was purchased by Benjamin F. Weeden the former husband of my wife Mary Jane , of Frisby Weeden and others—as will appear by the deed of trust and receipts hereunto appended.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said John Ringold was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of one thousand dollars in money.(3) John is a valuable servant, being a first rate garden and field hand—an excellent wagoner—and may be trusted with any duty, connected with a farm or garden.
Your petitioner hereby declares that he bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that he has not borne arms against the United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort thereto.
And your petitioner further states and alleges, that he has not brought said John Ringold into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said John Ringold was held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor.
Your petitioner further states and alleges, that his said claim to the service or labor of said John Ringold does not originate in or by virtue of any transfer heretofore made by any person who has in any manner aided or sustained the present rebellion against the Government of the United States.
And your petitioner prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of his said claim to the service or labor of said John Ringold herein above set forth; and if the same be found to be valid, that they appraise and apportion the value of said claim in money, and report the same to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, in conformity to the provisions of said act of Congress.
W. B. Lacy
Know all men by these presents that I Benjamin F. Weedon of Anne Arundel County and State of Maryland for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred and seventy nine dollars current money to me in hand paid by Robert B. Moss of the County and State aforesaid at or before the ensealing and delivering of these presents, the receipt whereof I the said Benjamin F. Weedon do hereby acknowledge have granted bargained and sold and by these presents do grant bargain and sell unto the said Robert B. Moss his executors, administrators and assigns a negro man named John alias John Ringold purchased by me of Frisby Weedon and others now in my possession. To have and to hold the said John to the said Robert B. Moss his executors, administrators and assigns forever, and I the said Benjamin F. Weedon for myself, my heirs, executors and administrators and against all and every person and persons whomsoever shall and will warrant and forever defend by these present
Provided Nevertheless that in case I the said Benjamin F. Weedon shall pay and satisfy to the said Robert B. Moss or to his, executors, administrators or assigns the sum of three hundred and seventy nine dollars current money with interest for the same on or before the first day of May one thousand eight hundred and forty six next ensuing then this bill of sale, and every matter and thing therein expressed shall be void and of none effect it being the true intent and meaning thereof, that the said John is mortgaged by me the said Benjamin F. Weedon to secure to the said Robert B. Moss the payment of the money aforesaid In witness whereof I the said Benjamin F. Weedon have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the 8 day of 1839
Benjamin F Weedon seal
Signed sealed and delivered in the presence
Miranda of [Yervell?]
William W. [Leedens?]
On this 8th day of May one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine before me one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County appears Benjamin F. Weedon and acknowledges the foregoing instrument of writing to be his act and deed according to the true intent and meaning thereof and the act of assembly in such case made and provided
Zack Merriken
to
Robert B. Moss
Bill of Sale
Received of Mr. Benjamin F. Weeden three dollars in full for Balance Due on John A Allen out for the use of Frisby Weeden
Frisby Weeden
Witness
Wm. Bryan
This is to sertyfy that I have Received the serves of John Ringol for the year 1840 at the consideration of $55 years this is to sertyfy that I have Received the serves of John Rinool for the year 1841 at the consideration of $55 years
Robert B Moss
Then received of Benjamin F. Weedon the sum of Two Hundred and Sixty five Dollars and seventy two cents, in consideration of which sum I release an instrument by me held against the said Benjamin F. Weedon
Robert B. Moss
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, W. B. Lacy being duly sworn, do depose and say, that all the several matters and things which are set forth and stated in the foregoing petition, as of my own knowledge, are true in substance and in fact; and that all the several other matters and things therein set forth and stated, as from the information of others, I believe to be true in substance and in fact.
W. B. Lacy
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 17th day of May A. D. 1862.
Jn. H. Johnson JP. seal
for W. B. Lacy.
C. B. Graham.
Fred. D. Stuart.
Note (1.)-- Here describe the person, so as to identify him or her; and if there be more than one slave, describe each one separately.
Note (2.)-- Here state how the claim was acquired, when, from whom, and for what price or consideration; and, if held under any written evidence of title, make exhibit thereof, or refer to the public record where the same may be found.
Note (3.)-- Here state such facts, if any there be, touching the value of the petitioner's claim to the service or labor of the person, as may enhance the same, and also such facts, if any, touching the moral, mental, and bodily infirmities or defects of said person, as impair the value of the petitioner's claim to such service or labor, and conclude such statement with an averment that the petitioner knows of no other infirmities or defects of said person which impair the value of petitioner's claim to such service or labor, and that he believes none other to exist. If the petitioner specify no such infirmity or defect, then his statement touching the value of his claim should conclude with an averment that he has no knowledge of any such infirmity or defect.
